The story of Dr. William Hurwitz - a preeminent pain specialist sentenced to 25 years in prison provides a window into the ethical dilemma of opioid prescriptions. Painkillers give doctors tremendous power to relieve pain, a primary goal of any physician. But this power begets trouble when the same drugs can lead to addiction, abuse and death.

Interview with Director Eve Marson

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I had been discussing the issue of opioid painkiller prescriptions for several years with my friends Dr. Alison Block and Dr. Timothy Poore. They emphasized to me how rampantly opioids were being over-prescribed and how they dealt with addiction and abuse every day on the job. This was a problem that they, as young doctors, had inherited from the previous medical generation. But it wasn't until I read a magazine profile of a doctor who had been targeted by the government for over prescribing painkillers that I thought to myself: this could be an interesting film. The story had never been told from the perspective of the doctor before. The doctor's dilemma - how can he or she provide compassionate relief to patients in pain while not creating addiction? - begged exploration.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Statistics of opioid and prescription drug abuse are skyrocketing nationwide - this is a huge problem we are facing. But much of the media coverage on the subject focuses on finger-pointing at Big Pharma, doctors and addicts. This year in particular, as the CDC has issued its first national guidelines to control opioid prescriptions and the investigation into Prince's death continues to fuel the hot debate, there could not be a more critical time to spark a discussion on this topic and call for careful thought and action.

I believe that documentary film is a powerful tool to explore the gray areas of complex social issues without bias. In sharing human stories, documentary can provide insight and access to different perspectives hidden nuances on a topic. I wanted to present a cast of characters, who are on different sides of this issue, but all of whom are relatable and empathetic. In telling Dr. Hurwitz's story and sharing these disparate perspectives, we underscore the tension between every patient's right to pain relief and the lawful need for drug control.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

It was always my intention to make a film that presented an ambiguous portrayal of Dr. Hurwitz. The question arises: is he a compassionate doctor or a reckless drug trafficker? I wanted to show both perspectives but never wanted the film to take a clear stance.Dr. Hurwitz's particular story takes place from 1995-2004. At the same time, we as filmmakers were watching as the story of painkiller prescriptions continued to unfold in the news.

In the two years we were making the film, numbers of drug abuse have continued to surge - especially heroin use which is largely fueled by opioid addiction. Doctors who prescribe painkillers are being targeted more aggressively by the government, and many patients with chronic pain are finding it harder than ever to find effective treatment. It became important to me to include these numbers and facts in the film, as a portrait of the current situation.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Audience members have very disparate reactions to Dr. Hurwitz and to the film - which I think is a good thing. We've also received an incredible outpouring of personal stories, as many people want to share with us their own stories of addiction, chronic pain or medical dilemmas.

Dr. Feelgood - Large quantities of opioids prescribed by Dr. William Hurwitz.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It's only reinforced the notion that this issue affects many many Americans - but in contrasting ways. 1 in 3 Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is a staggering statistic. At the same time, opioids now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. It feels like almost every person I talk to has a personal stake in the question of opioid prescriptions.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I'm hoping to get the word out about this film so that we can launch as large a discussion as possible on our topic.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Journalists, international buyers...

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

My aim is that this story will deepen our understanding of the issue, rather than simply lecture the audience from one angle. I hope the film can be thought-provoking and can lead to productive discussion, and ultimately clear solutions for the future.

Dr. Feelgood - Dr. William Hurwitz on trial.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How can we quantify pain?

How can a doctor provide compassionate relief to patients while not creating addiction?

Is Dr. Hurwitz a compassionate or reckless doctor?

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Our production company Bungalow Pictures is in development on several exciting new projects, including an 8-part documentary television series.

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

The story of Dr. William Hurwitz - a preeminent pain specialist sentenced to 25 years in prison provides a window into the ethical dilemma of opioid prescriptions. Painkillers give doctors tremendous power to relieve pain, a primary goal of any physician. But this power begets trouble when the same drugs can lead to addiction, abuse and death.

Length:

84 minutes

Director:

Eve Marson

Producer:

Sara Goldblatt, Eve Marson

Writer:

David Boodell, Sara Goldblatt, Mark Monroe, Eve Marson

About the writer, director and producer:

Eve Marson produced the feature documentaries FED UP with journalist Katie Couric, and CRAIGSLIST JOE (2012). Marson also produced the documentary THE SCHEDULE MAKERS, part of ESPN's 2014 Emmy-winning '30for30' series, and has created various nonfiction television programming for Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and PBS.

Sara Godlblatt produced AMERKA!, an independent feature documentary, and THE IRANIAN AMERICANS for PBS (2012).